Jan’s work is an exploration of the relationship between personal healing and mysticism. Her work offers an opportunity to anchor to a deeper substratum within, finding an inner place where we can begin to take refuge. During our time together we will:
Chant and Meditate (meditations are no longer than 20 minutes)
Explore spiritual and psychological teachings, including a framework for better understanding the nature of consciousness
Explore whatever you bring into circle from your daily life
Offer healing work that includes energetic, ancestral and lineage work
Gather in ceremony
Share 10 locally sourced, organic and vegetarian meals
Provide daily morning yoga classes
about our retreats
Rock and debris will eventually slow down or block the current of a river. To help a river flow more freely, we remove whatever is impeding its flow. Similarly, the source of true nourishment lies within us, not in the external world, and is always available to us. However, it is often hard to know this, because our access to this bounty is often obscured.
This retreat is an opportunity to anchor to a deeper substratum within, finding an inner place where we can begin to take refuge. Together, we work with the obstacles that are in the way of our relationship to the interconnected substratum at the core of our being––our most essential Self.
We begin where you are. You are both the portal to the sacred and sacred. We work with whatever you bring to the table––your faith or lack of it, your lineage or rejection of lineage, your relationships, work, disappointments, struggles, dreams, recurring themes or images, and the ground of your everyday life.
Inner work does not happen overnight. It is a process, a commitment, and ultimately a gift. When we sit together and deepen our commitment to ourselves and each other, we develop resilience in the face of uncertainty and we move closer to the true Source of all that we long for––compassion, joy, peace, harmony, hope, integrity, humility and true service.
discerning if retreats are right for you
The work at Antara is rooted in spirituality, with an invitation for each person to explore their direct connection to Spirit. People of all faiths gather here, as well as those who have no faith, or who are exploring lineage, and many spiritual teachings come through during retreat. We chant together, spend some time in meditation and welcome questions around how to begin or deepen a spiritual practice. However, the majority of our time together is spent engaged in healing work. Because of the strength of the container, there may be strong expressions of emotion and a high level of intensity. We will sometimes witness in each other profound levels of suffering. We work this way in order to unburden our hearts, and to recover our joyful nature. We want you to know this in advance so that you can discern if this is the right retreat for you at this time. If you are unsure, please reach out to Newell, who can help you talk this through at info@antarataos.com.
cost & Pricing
As a part of Antara’s mission, we care deeply about making our work financially accessible to those who wish to come. It is also important to us to offer fair and good compensation to the people who serve Antara, creating a strong and loving container for the work that we do. In an effort to balance these two values, we offer a four-tiered pricing structure that recognizes and respects individual difference with regard to income.
angel rate - $2,000 plus tax*
This rate supports the costs of running and maintaining Antara and helps to off-set the cost of those who are coming on scholarship.
FULL RATE - $1,500 plus tax*
This rate supports both the costs specifically related to this retreat as well as overall costs of maintaining the retreat center.
Sustainable Rate - $995 plus tax*
This rate supports all costs related specifically to this retreat, including the labor of our staff.
Supported Rate
There are some scholarships available for those with limited resources. If you have received a scholarship in the past, please note that you must reapply for each retreat. Click here for more information.
*Please note all rates are subject to Town of Taos’s additional Gross Receipts Tax of 8.675%. This tax is specific to all goods and services sold in Taos, even though it will labeled as a state tax at checkout.
how to hold your spot
You can either pay your tuition in full upon registering, or pay a $200 deposit, and pay for the remainder of your retreat rate at a later date, no more than 2 weeks prior to the start of the retreat.
Payments are non-refundable, however can be applied to a future retreat if you decide to cancel.
structure of retreat
Photo by Marisa Vitale
the circle
We begin at 5:00 pm on the Thursday evening of the retreat. There is an opening circle, followed by a light dinner. We ask that you arrive by 4:30 pm so that you are settled and ready to go at 5:00 pm. The opening session is very important, as it will set the tone for the rest of the retreat. Please consider arriving in New Mexico on Wednesday so that you can begin the retreat somewhat rested. This will also give you an opportunity to adjust a bit to the altitude. We will close the circle on Sunday around 6:30 pm and then share a final meal together. We ask that people stay to the end, so that we can hold a tight container for all.
schedule
There is a fluid quality to the way that we run retreats, so plan on arriving with a sense of flexibility. Below is a tentative schedule:
Thursday
4:30 pm: Arrival and settling in
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Opening Circle
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Light dinner
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
7:45 am - 9:00: Yoga
9:00 - 10:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Morning Circle
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Lunch and Break
2:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Afternoon Circle
6:30 pm: Dinner
ACCOMMODATIONS
There is one casita available on our property, for $150 per night, plus tax. There are a number of Air Bnbs and small hotels within walking distance to the retreat center. If you need help finding housing, please email us at info@antarataos.com.
WHAT TO BRING
Regardless of the season, the weather in Taos is cooler in the evenings and warmer in the middle of the day, with wide swings in temperature. The days are warm and the evenings are cool, so bring layers. The sun is strong in Taos, particularly in the middle of the day. Sunscreen is advisable.
In general, New Mexico is extremely casual. While on retreat, it is important that you are comfortable, so plan to bring casual and comfortable clothes. If you have a meditation pillow that you prefer, you might want to bring this along.
Because you are coming to a high altitude (Taos sits at over 7,000 feet) you may want to consider taking chlorophyl to provide your body with support for this transition. Optimally, begin taking a chlorophyl supplement a week or two before you arrive and continue to do so throughout your stay. ChlorOxygen is a great supplement option.
ELECTRONICS
While there may be times when it is necessary to stay connected to the outside world, it is important to minimize this. Retreats, at their best, provide an opportunity to “unplug.” If you are in a position to do so, you may want to minimize your screen time or leave a message that indicates that you will be out of reach so that you can truly detach from the outside world.
GETTING HERE
There is a small airline with direct flights from four cities to Taos (JSX) but it only runs seasonally.
The closest airport is in Santa Fe. It is a small airport, serviced by American Eagle Airlines and United Airlines. It is about an hour and twenty minute drive from Santa Fe airport to Taos.
There is a larger international airport in Albuquerque that tends to have less expensive options than Santa Fe. Taos is due north of Albuquerque and the drive is about two hours and twenty minutes.
The easiest option for getting from the airport to Taos is to rent a car, as the public transportation options are minimal.
These shuttles have limited runs from both the Sunport International Airport (Albuquerque) and Santa Fe airport:
Taos Rides: https://taosrides.com/
Tripcarma: https://tripcarma.com/
ABOUT JAN BIRCHFIELD
Jan’s work weaves together psychology, mysticism, shamanic and contemplative practice. She enjoys incorporating practices that explore the unlimited nature of consciousness into her work.
Jan has an undergraduate degree in philosophy from the College of Wooster and a Ph.D. in psychology from Fordham University. From 2004 until 2009, she had the honor of working under the tutelage of the late David LaChapelle, drawing on his broad and deep knowledge of spiritual traditions and practices from around the world. In 2007, David initiated Jan into a shamanic practice. She then attended the Four Winds Residential Energy Training Program to augment her practice.
In 1995 Jan co-founded the Center for Advanced Emotional Intelligence, a leadership development company. In 2011, she founded Contemplative Leadership Development and opened a retreat center in Taos, New Mexico called Antara - "what lies within" - with her daughter Dillon and husband Finn.
Jan has written a number of articles that can be accessed here, as well as two books: Silent Leaders and Wing of Effort, Wing of Grace.
THE RETREAT CENTER
Our retreat center sits on five acres of land within half a mile of downtown Taos.